Press Releases

"It has been a true honor to work with Eric Holder, and I know he will remain an ally in the fight for justice and equal opportunity for every student in America. Eric understands -- at a very deep, personal level -- the costs to families, communities and our country when students do not have equal access to educational opportunities.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced the award of $35 million for 24 new partnerships between universities and high-need school districts that will recruit, train and support more than 11,000 teachers over the next five yearsprimarily in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fieldsto improve student achievement.

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $3.9 million to partnerships of postsecondary institutions and school districts that focus on increasing the number of minority and other underrepresented students in gifted and talented programs.

NOTE TO EDITORS: There will be a background call today at 12:30 to discuss the FY 2011 cohort default rates. Media who are interested in joining the call may dial 800-857-9712. The passcode is “education”

U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced the award of $82 million for 41 grants under Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) that will help 116,000 at-risk students to prepare for college and receive the support they need to achieve success in postsecondary education.

The U.S. Department of Education awarded more than $14.7 million to 40 school districts in 20 states across the country to establish or expand counseling programs. Grantees will use funds to support counseling programs in elementary and secondary schools.

The Obama Administration announced today that the District of Columbia and Tennessee have received a one-year extension for flexibility from certain provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), also known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB).